The earliest detailed accounts we have of military contests between the Jewish people and their enemies are found in the Bible. In this podcast episode, the first in a four-part series on great battles of Jewish history, David examines three events from the books of Judges and Samuel in which the Jewish people experience war. Beginning with an in-depth exploration of the fundamental role played by the geography and topography of the land, David explains how an understanding of these details can transform our historical picture of the tactics, leadership, and circumstances of those involved. He also discusses other significant elements that led to the success or failure of each military test and how figures like Devorah and Barak, Gidon, and Saul each fared in these critical moments of individual and national survival.

For listeners to the podcast who can not see the maps David draws in this lecture, we have provided a series of graphics that capture the information provided on the whiteboard here https://bit.ly/3o8yik2. In order to gain the most from this lecture, we recommend referring to these maps as you listen.

This Jewish history lecture includes discussions on:

- Israel's technological disadvantage in early warfare, including its lack of iron for weapons and chariots
- how Devorah and Barak (and Yael) defeated Sisera and the Canaanite army at the Battle of Mount Tabor
- the tactics used by Gideon to defeat the Midianites at the Battle of Moreh
the story behind Saul's defeat by the Philistines at the Battle of Gilboa
- the importance of understanding geography and topography in military campaigns
- the role of mobility and intelligence in military victories

Find part two https://youtu.be/55HMew99Fl4

Find part three https://youtu.be/Lkzo8ee4hzY

Find part four https://youtu.be/4yDTv4MlyqE

David is also renowned for his Jewish history lecture, The Whole of Jewish History in One Hour https://youtu.be/GUlM2a2tsOM

Find more of David Solomon's podcast, with dozens of lectures on Jewish history, the Bible, Jewish philosophy, and Kabbalah at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPZc8ZC7r568Er1pwL8ZiLbU1tV6PFf4L

David is also renowned for his talk, The Whole of Jewish History in One Hour https://youtu.be/GUlM2a2tsOM

Learn more at davidsolomon.online

Image of David by Stephan Rohl under CC licensing http://www.stephan-roehl.de

Image of battle: Five kings of Midian slain by Israel (illustration from the 1728 Figures de la Bible). Figures de la Bible, Gerard Hoet (1648-1733), and others, published by P. de Hondt in The Hague. Public domain.

Map image: Map of Lower Galil provided under a Creative Commons licence by Daniel Baránek with additions from M Solomon (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lower_Galilee_map.svg)